Competition stiff for city lobbyist post [Topeka Capital Journal (KS)]

Interim Topeka city manager Dan Stanley says he was impressed by all six firms that recently sought to become the city's lobbyist at the Kansas Legislature.

"Everyone who proposed was upper tier," he said this past week.

Stanley, who served the state government as Gov. Bill Graves' Secretary of Administration from 1996 to 2001, chose Wichita-based Schneider Public Strategies LLC to be Topeka's lobbyist next year at a cost of $32,000.

Scott Schneider replaces Topekans Whitney and Kathy Damron, the city's lobbyists for nine years, who were paid $35,000 this year.

After City Councilman Chad Manspeaker suggested Dec. 13 that Stanley should have hired a Topeka firm, The Topeka Capital-Journal this past week acquired from the city copies of each of the proposals it received from those seeking to be its lobbyist.

Their proposals show the applicants were:

- Overland Park-based Ad Astra Group LLC, for which principals are Bob Vancrum and Dodie Wellshear. Their proposal said Vancrum has been a lobbyist since 1996, and previously served 16 years as a Kansas representative and senator. It said Wellshear, who lives year- round in Topeka, has more than 16 years experience working with the Kansas Legislature. Ad Astra sought $34,800.

- Wakarusa-based Bluestem Government Relations, LLC. The company is owned by Ann Spiess, former director of legislation and interim executive director for the Kansas Association of Counties. The proposal said Spiess' work experience "includes extensive legislative representation and association management for over 20 years." Bluestem sought $29,500.

- Topeka-based Burgess & Associates, a company consisting of Denny and Tom Burgess. Their proposal said Denny Burgess has been a fulltime lobbyist since 1983 and Tom Burgess since 1986. They proposed a fee schedule ranging from $35,000 to $50,000.

- Topeka-based Capitol Connection LLC, for which officers are R.E. "Tuck" Duncan and Spencer Duncan. Their proposal said both are registered lobbyists, with Tuck Duncan having served in that capacity more than 30 years. They sought $32,000.

- Polsinelli Shughart, which has offices in 16 cities nationwide, including Topeka. The proposal said lobbying team members would include shareholder Bill Sneed, who has lobbied in Kansas since 1986 after serving as chief counsel to the Kansas Insurance Department; legislative consultant Nancy Zogleman, who has lobbied in Kansas since 1990 after serving as chief of staff for the state's Senate president, Senate majority leader and Speaker of the House; and legislative consultant George Stafford, a staff member for 14 years and former director of commerce and industry for then- Sen. Sam Brownback, who is now governor. They sought $72,000.

- Wichita-based Schneider Public Strategies LLC. The company is owned by Schneider, whose experience includes having lobbied for six years for Cox Communications and one year for the city of Wichita. Schneider also served from 1995 to 1997 as director of constituent services for Graves and from 1997 to 1998 as organization director for Graves' successful re-election campaign. Schneider sought $32,000.

Schneider is an attorney. Stanley said he wanted in particular to hire a lobbyist who also was an attorney, so the city's legal staff could simply review and edit proposed legislation and amendments rather than needing to draft them.

Stanley said he was also looking for someone who had experience lobbying for a municipality or public entity, and who had a broad range of relationships beyond just the Shawnee County delegation.

"That is not to diminish the importance of the delegation but that delegation alone does not represent a majority of the legislature," he said.

Stanley said his reasons for hiring Schneider included his Statehouse experience and his breadth of relationships, which will extend beyond the Shawnee County legislative delegation's reach.

Tim Hrenchir can be reached

at (785) 295-1184

or [email protected].